Camera carrier

ABSTRACT

A camera carrier is provided. The camera carrier includes a camera receptacle and an attachment system for mounting the receptacle to a person. The receptacle includes a member forming a lens receiving chamber sized and shaped to receive the lens of a camera therein with the lens being in a generally vertical position and pointing generally downward. The camera body limits the movement of the camera lens into the chamber. A retainer is provided to releaseably retain the camera mounted to the carrier and the lens within the chamber.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Carriers for cameras are well known in the art. Generally they take oneof three forms, bags, shoulder straps and chest harnesses. The firstform is a camera bag usually having a shoulder strap for carrying thebag and the contents in the bag. Such bags generally have variouscompartments for camera components and the camera and will have a topthat is closeable, for example, with a zipper. Such bags are generallywell designed and effective for their intended purpose, i.e., carrying acamera, film and accessories. However, in order to use the camera thebag must be opened, the camera removed, used and rebagged. While thecamera case is open, items contained within the bag can be lost orspilled. Further, camera bags tend to be larger than needed for just thecamera and are relatively expensive.

Two other means for carrying cameras have been provided and are wellknown in the industry. Those include shoulder straps and chest harnessarrangements. Shoulder straps, while good, permit the cameras to movefreely limited only by the strap and the photographers body. Strapsallow bouncing and swinging of the camera and some discomfort andinconvenience during carrying. Further, by the camera beingsubstantially unrestrained, the camera may also bang into objects andbecome damaged. With a long or telephoto lens, cameras carried on astrap have a tendency to point downwardly because of the camera's centerof gravity. Carrying a camera with a shoulder strap can also result inthe camera falling from ones shoulder or provide an opportunity for thecamera to be easily stolen. To alleviate some of the aforementionedproblems, shoulder straps have been provided with a waist beltarrangement to help secure the camera in place during carrying, howeverthis requires a release from the waist belt to make the camera ready touse. Chest harnesses are well known in the industry for carrying acamera in a position in front of ones upper torso. The chest harness canposition the camera adjacent ones chest or abdomen. Such an arrangementnormally carries the camera in a lens forward position exposing the lensto damage from bumping or falling of the user.

While each of the above described camera carrying devices have theirbenefits and are generally effective, they do have drawbacks,particularly when they are used to carry a camera with a long lens, suchas a telephoto lens that projects from the front of the camera body toany extent. A typical camera carried by the aforementioned devices is a35 mm SLR (single lens reflex) camera. 35 mm cameras tend to have a bodyand a removable lens. Typically lenses project 1½ to 6 inches from thefront of the camera and even more for high magnification and first lenscameras with some lens being over a foot in length. There is thus a needfor an improved camera carrying device, particularly for those camerashaving a long front lens but is also useable with cameras having shortto medium length lenses.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention involves the provision of a camera carrying deviceincluding an attachment system for securing a camera receptacle to aperson preferably allowing the receptacle and contained camera to bemoved to various positions on a person. The attachment system mayinclude a waist belt sleeve forming member for attaching a backing andreceptacle to the waist belt. The lens of the camera may be insertedinto an interior chamber of the receptacle and have the camera body reston a stop. The receptacle forming member may be constructed to provide afixed size chamber interior or an adjustable size interior. A retainermay be provided to releaseably retain a camera with the lens received inthe chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera carrying device with a camerabeing carried thereby.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the camera carrying device without acamera.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the camera carrying device of FIGS. 1 and 2showing portions of the carrying device separated to better illustratedetail.

FIG. 4 is a back elevation view of the camera carrying device of FIGS.1-3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modified form of camera carryingdevice.

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the camera carrying device of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a back elevation view of the carrying device of FIGS. 5, 6.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of camera retainingdevice usable in either of the forms of the camera carrying device ofFIGS. 1-7.

Like numbers throughout the drawings designate like or similar parts asare more fully described in the below description of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As seen in FIG. 1, a camera 1 is releasably carried by a carrier devicedesignated generally 3. The carrier 3 is comprised generally of anattachment system 5 and a camera receptacle designated generally 7 (anddenoted 7A in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4) mounted to theattachment system. The receptacle 7 is shown as including a backing 9secured to a receptacle forming member or device 11 forming a chamber 12for receipt of a portion of the camera 1, such as a lens 13, therein. Aretainer device, designated generally 15, is provided for releaseablyretaining or securing the camera 1 in carrying relationship to thereceptacle 7. As seen, it is preferred that the camera 1 be carried in alens down, body 14 up position with the camera having at least theportion 16 thereof exposed to assist in its retrieval or removal fromthe carrier device 3 with a simple move preferably in a singledirection. Preferably the body 14 is in an upper position relative tothe lens 13 whereby when removed, the users hands will be in a positionfor activating the camera, i.e., either its film drive, shutter releaseor other camera controls being at the ready without significant furthermanipulation or reorientation of the camera relative to the users hands.

The attachment system 5 includes a waist belt 17 comprising a strap 21having an adjustable length and a buckle device 22. The buckle 22 ispreferably of a quick release type as is well known in the art. Suchbuckles come in various forms including side release and front release,either being appropriate. The length of the strap 21 may be adjusted atthe buckle 22 as is well known in the art. Preferably the strap 21 is ofa webbing type material and can be on the order of 1 to 3 inches inwidth and preferably has a thickness on the order of about 0.03 to about0.10 inches. Such a thickness and width will help prevent the strap 21from curling under the weight of the camera 1 and receptacle 7. Thestrap 21 is preferably made of woven fibers, either natural orpolymeric. Polymers such as nylon are preferred. It is to be understoodthat the strap 21 may be used as a shoulder strap preferably wornbandoleer style.

The carrier 3 includes backing 9 which cooperates with the strap 21 tohelp form the attachment system 5. Preferably the backing 9 is also madeof web material having a width equal to or exceeding that of the widthof the strap 21. On the back face 25 of the backing 9, belt loops 27 maybe provided for attaching the receptacle 7 to the strap 21. Other meansof mounting the receptacle 7 to the strap 21 can be provided. Such arewell known in the art. For example, metallic clips can be used. It ispreferred that the attachment or mounting of the receptacle 7 to thestrap 21 be such that the position of the receptacle 7 relative to thestrap 21 may be changed along the length of the strap 21 for convenienceof the wearer of the carrier device 3. Thus, the receptacle 7 may bepositioned at any position about a person”s waist area relative to thebuckle 22 which will normally be worn at the front of the person. Thebelt loops 27 may be in the form of loops formed by a sewing fabric suchas webbing material, as described above, to the backing 9. The loops 27with the backing 9 form sleeves with through holes 29 for receipt of thestrap 21 therethrough. The strap 21 overlies the back surface 25 betweenthe inside edges of the belt loops 27 and is unattached to provideaccess to the surface 25 for a purpose later described.

Two forms of receptacle 7 are illustrated in the Figures. Those beingdesignated as 7A and 7B for convenience. The form of receptacle 7A(FIGS. 1-4) provides an adjustable size chamber 12 while the receptacle7B (FIGS. 5-7) provides a non-adjustable size chamber.

The receptacle 7A provides for an adjustable size chamber 12. Thereceptacle 7A is formed by the member 11 that is secured to the backing9 and being spaced therefrom forming a loop to define an interiorchamber 12 between the inner surface of the member 11 and the insidesurface 30 of the backing 9. The member 11, as seen, is comprised of apair of members 32, 33 each of which is attached to the backing 9 as bysewing at 35, 36 respectively. Other means of attaching the members 32,33 to the backing 9 may be utilized such as adhesion, welding andmechanical fasteners. Additionally, and for example, the attachment ofthe member 32 or 33 at 35 or 36 respectively could be through the use ofhook and loop type fastening members, instead of stitching. The use ofhook and loop fastener members would allow for further size adjustmentof the chamber 12 if desired. However, it is preferred that permanentattachment of the members 32, 33 to the backing 9 be utilized as opposedto a releasable attachment. The length of the member 11 is longer thanthe length of the backing 9 between the areas 35, 36 of attachmentbetween the member 11 and backing 9 for forming the chamber 12. Themembers 32, 33 have overlapping portions 37, 38 respectively facing oneanother. The portions 37, 38 have adjacent surfaces 41, 42 respectively.A securement device is provided to secure or attach the portions 37, 38together in a selectively releasable manner. In the illustratedstructure the securement device includes hook and loop fastener members45, 46, respectively (FIG. 3) with one member being a hook member andthe other member being a loop member which provides for the releasablesecurement of the portions 37 and 38 together while providing connectionto one another at various relative positions to provide for adjustmentof the size of the chamber 12. Hook and loop fasteners are well known inthe art with some being available under the brand Velcro®. The hook andloop members 45, 46 may be suitably secured to the members 37, 38 as bystitching. Adhesive securement may also be used if desired. It ispreferred that the chamber 12 be sized to provide a relatively snug fitof the lens of the camera therein but the size and fit may be changed toaccommodate personal preference. The body of the camera provides ashoulder 47 which will rest on the top edges of 48, 49, 50 the backing 9and members 32, 33, respectively, providing a stop to prevent the camera1 from falling through the chamber 12.

A retainer 15 is provided to releaseably retain the camera 1 with itslens 13 mounted to the carrier 3 and the lens at least partially withinthe chamber 12. The retainer 15 can be in the form of a selectivelyreleasable strap device 51. In the illustrated embodiment, a securementdevice 55 such as a hook or loop member is secured to the back surface25 of the backing 9. Selective release may be provided for by the use ofinterengageable hook and loop fastener members. A securement device 57such as a hook or loop member can be secured to the outer surface 59 ofthe member 32. The strap device 51 will have adjacent its free endscorresponding fastener members 61 such as hook and loop members whichare interengageable with the hook or loop members 55, 57 to releaseablyretain the strap device 51 to the receptacle forming member 11 and thebacking 9 bridging across the top open end 62 of the chamber 12 andengageable with the body 14 of the camera 1 to retain at least a portionof the camera lens 13 within the chamber 12. By the use of hook and loopfasteners, the strap 51 may be easily released at one or both endsallowing removal of the camera at one or both ends and can also providefor adjustability of the length of the strap 51 bridging between thebacking 9 and member 32. The strap device 51 may also be provided withtwo strap portions 51A, 51B connected together also with releasablefasteners 66 such as hook and loop fastener members. While hook and loopfasteners are a particularly useful fastening device, they do howeverpose the potential of a noise problem in order to effect release of thecamera 1 from the carrier device 3. This may be obviated by the use of abuckle 67 shown in phantom in FIG. 8, which buckle is preferably of thequick release type. Such buckles are typically of the side release orcenter release type and can be released with little, if any, noise.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, a combination lens protector/camera stopdesignated generally 68 may also be provided. Such a device can be inthe form of a strap member 69 utilizing releasable fasteners 70 such ashook and loop fastener devices for securement to the hook or loop member57 having a cover device 73 secured thereto which when the lens isinserted will preferably cover the entirety of the exposed lens opticalelements. The protector/stop 68 may be adjustable in length throughadjustment of the position of the hook and loop members 70 and on themember 57 and may also include a plurality of strap portions joinedtogether by hook and loop members (not shown). Alternatively, theprotector/stop 68 may have one end attached to a hook or loop member 57and the other end attached to the hook or loop member 45.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2, a securement safety device, designatedgenerally 71, is shown. The safety device 71 is provided to help ensurethat the interconnected fasteners 45, 46 and 61, 57 remain attached. Asshown, the securement device 71 includes a strap 72 having a one or morereleasable fasteners 74 such as a hook or loop member on one facethereof for securement to the attachment members 45, 57. The strap 72,as illustrated, bridges across the free end 75 and may also be inoverlying relationship to a portion of the strap 51B at its area ofattachment to the fastening member 57. The use of the securement device71 also helps ensure that the strap 51 stays attached to the member 57.

FIGS. 5-7 show a modified form of the camera carrier device. Themodified form of carrier is designated generally as 103. The modifiedcarrier device 103 includes an attachment system 5, retainer 15 and abacking 9 as described above. The attachment system 5 includes a waistbelt 17 comprising a strap 21 and buckle 22. Belt loops 27 are providedon the backing 9 for attaching the belt 16 to the backing 9 as describedabove. A securement device 57, as described above, may also be providedon the outside face of the backing 9. The carrier 103 differs from thecarrier 3 in that the receptacle forming member 111 is non adjustableand is preferably made of a single piece of material with the size orperimeter length of the chamber 112 not being adjustable as through theuse of a two piece member as described above. The chamber 112 is formedby the securement of the member 111 to the backing 9. The securement canbe by the permanent attachment of at least one portion of the member 111to the backing 9 as by sewing at 135, 136. Alternately, and by way ofexample, the attachment at 136 of the member 111 to the backing 9 can bethrough the use of a releasable means such as a set of hook and loopfastener members, removable lacing, etc. A camera 1 and its lens 13 arereleasably mounted to the carrier 103 by a retainer 15 as describedabove. The retainer 51 can be releaseably secured to a hook and loopfastener member or other suitable securement device 61 and to asecurement device 57 also as described above. A securement safety device71, as described above may also be provided.

Thus, there has been shown and described several embodiments of a novelcamera carrier. As is evident from the foregoing description, certainaspects of the present invention are not limited by the particulardetails of the examples illustrated herein and it is thereforecontemplated that other modifications and applications, or equivalentsthereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Many changes,modifications, variations and other uses and applications of the presentconstructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the artafter considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. Allsuch changes, modifications, variations and other uses and applicationswhich do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention aredeemed to be covered by the invention which is limited only by theclaims which follow.

1. A camera carrier comprising: at least one receptacle forming memberat least partially defining an open top chamber adapted to receive atleast a portion of a camera lens therein; an attachment system operablyassociated with the receptacle member and adapted to releaseably mountthe receptacle forming member to a person with a longitudinal axis of acamera lens pointing generally downwardly; a generally upwardly facingcamera stop positioned adjacent an upper edge of the receptacle formingmember and operable to limit movement of a camera lens into the chamberand support a camera while being carried by the camera carrier; and aretainer operable to releaseably retain a camera mounted to a portion ofthe camera carrier.
 2. A camera carrier as set forth in claim 1 whereinat least one receptacle forming member including first and secondmembers with a portion of the first and second members coupled together,a portion of the first member being longer than and spaced from acorresponding portion of the second member defining at least a portionof the chamber, said chamber open top forming a lens entry to thechamber.
 3. A camera carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidattachment system including at least one first securement device securedto said second member and operable to mount said first and secondmembers to said attachment system.
 4. A camera carrier as set forth inclaim 3 wherein said attachment system including a waist belt and saidat least one first securement device including at least one loop memberdefining a waist belt receiving sleeve.
 5. A camera carrier as set forthin claim 4 wherein there is a plurality of said at least one loopmember, said loop members being in spaced apart relationship and eachforming a waist belt receiving sleeve for receipt of the waist belttherethrough.
 6. A camera carrier as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidfirst member including a pair of first member portions each havingopposite first and second end portions, said first end portions beingfree end portions and having interengageable first fastener devicesthereon to releaseably attach the first end portions together inoverlapping relationship.
 7. A camera carrier as set forth in claim 6wherein the first fastener devices being operable to allow adjustment ofoverlap of the overlapping portions to selectively adjust perimeter sizeof the chamber.
 8. A camera carrier as set forth in claim 7 wherein thefirst fastener devices each including one of a hook fastener device or aloop fastener device.
 9. A camera carrier as set forth in claim 1wherein the retainer including a strap having an intermediate portionpositioned over the open top end of the chamber.
 10. A camera carrier asset forth in claim 9 wherein the strap including a second securementdevice operable to selectively release a camera from retention by theretainer.
 11. A camera carrier as set forth in claim 10 wherein thesecond securement device including one of a hook or loop fasteningmember attached thereto.
 12. A camera carrier as set forth in claim 11wherein the strap has opposite end portions and one said strap oppositeend portion having said first securement device attached thereto forreleasable securement to a hook or loop fastening member secured to thereceptacle forming member.
 13. A camera carrier as set forth in claim 12wherein the other of said strap opposite ends having a said secondsecurement device attached thereto for releasable securement to a hookor loop member secured to a portion of the attachment system.
 14. Acamera carrier as set forth in claim 13 wherein the strap includingfirst and second strap portions with a third securement devicereleasably securing said first and second strap portions to one anotherintermediate said first and second end portions.
 15. A camera carrier asset forth in claim 14 wherein the third securement device including ahook fastening member secured to said first strap portion and a loopfastening member secured to said second strap portion.
 16. A cameracarrier as set forth in claim 2 including a fourth securement deviceoperable to assist in the retainer releasably retaining a camera mountedto a portion of the camera carrier and preventing at least one of thefirst and second members from decoupling.
 17. A camera carrier as setforth in claim 16 including a hook or loop fastener member exposed on anoutside surface of one of the first and second member and the fourthsecurement device including a strap having a hook or loop fastenermember releaseably attachable to the hook or loop fastener member onsaid outside surface.
 18. A camera carrier as set forth in claim 17wherein the retainer including a strap having an free end thereof with ahook or loop fastener member adjacent the free end and releaseablyattachable to a hook or loop fastener member on an outside surface ofthe receptacle forming member.